Signaling circuits



Oct. 16 1923. 1,470,984

E. D. JOHNSON SIGNALING CIRCUITS Filed Feb. 7, 1918 //1 ven m r: [dqar 0. Jofinson.

Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

EDGAR D. JOHNSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOIK TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING CIRCUITS.

Application filed February 7, 1918. Serial No. 215,930.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR D. JorrNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Circuits, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric circuits wherein a repeater or the like is connected between two transmission lines in one manner for transmission in one direction and in another manner for transmission in the opposite direction.

In my application Serial No. 213,523, Signaling systems and methods of operating the same, filed January 24, 1918, it is shown how means for reversing the connections of the repeater to the lines may be continually operated, the reversal of the repeater connections being arrested in response to current impressed on the line to maintain the repeater connected in the proper manner, and to permit the transmission of current in the proper direction through the repeater.

An object of the present invention is to overcome a brief time-lag that exists in the above system by reason of the fact that the impression of current on the line serves to arrest the motion of all of the control relays associated with the reversing switch and all of which are subsequently set in motion.

According to the present .invention the reversing switch operates in response to the continual actuation of some device, such as an interrupter, which is always in motion, the interrupter being removed from the con trol of the reversing switch by means of the voice relay or other relay responsive to the incoming current. lVhen the voice relay ceases to operate the continually operating interrupter immediately assumes control of the reversing switch, operating in the manner desired.

Another object of the invention is to make more positive the control of the circuits by the voice-operated relay and to this end there is associated with the voiceoperated relay an auxiliary relay which opens the circuit while the voice relay is operating. The voice relay is provided with vibrating contacts, which serve to increase the resistance in the circuit in which they are included. This resistance is more eitectively increased, however, according to the present invention, by the use of the auxiliary relay, which positively keeps the circuit open while the voice relay is operating.

Further objects of the invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure shows diagrammatically a two-way repeater circuit embodying the invention.

In the drawingthe repeater 1, which is here shown as of the mechanical type, although any other type may be employed, is adapted to be reversibly connected between the lines 2 and 3 by means of the relays or reversing switches at and 5. As shown in the drawings, the line 2 is connected through armature 6 and repeating coil 7 to the input side of the repeater, the output side of which is connected through repeating coil 8 and armature 9 to the line 3. It is obvious that with the armatures 6 and 9 in their alternate positions, the connection of the repeater 1 between the lines 2 and 3 is reversed, the line 3 being connected by way of the armature 9 and repeating coil 7 to the input side of the repeater, the output: side of which, through the repeating coil 8 and armature 6, leads to the line 2.

The reversing switches 4: and 5 are operated by the relay 10, the armature of which, in the position shown, sends current from ground, through battery 11, to the solenoids 12 and 13 to ground, which attracts the armatures 6 and 9 to the position shown. IVhen the armature 14 of therela-y 1O assumes its alternate position. the battery 11 is connected in circuit with the solenoids '15 and 16, thereby moving the armatures 6 and 9 to their alternate positions and reversing the connection of repeater 1 to the lines. The operation of the relay 10 is con trolled by means of the interrupter 17. the energizing circuit of which includes armature l8 and battery 19. Vith armature 20 of interrupter 17 in the position shown. the solenoid 2] of relay 10 is energized through a circuit which includes battery 11, solenoid 21, armature 20, armature 22 of a relay 23, and the vibratable contact 24: of an alternating current or voice-operated relay 25, which is permanently connected in Shunt to the input side of the repeater as shown. The

movement of armature 20 of the interrupter to it. alternate contact s to substitute the M a mid 2G for the solenoid 21 in circuit 1. tery ll, tlicreoy iTlOVlUgiP; armaalteinate position and reversing the switches 4!. and 5. The interrupter 1T continually operating and wi n armatures 22 and 2% closed, as they a when no current is impressed on the lines 2 and the relay 10 and the reversing switches 4; and 5 oscillate their arn'iatures in step with the movement of armature 20 o? the interrupter. The continual. operat on of the switches 4 and 5 serves to point tlierepeater first in one direction and then in the other between the lines 2 and 3.

lit voice current is impressed on the line 2 with the armatures oi. the relays in the position shown, the armature 2st 01"- relay 25 is set into vibration, thereby'su'lliciently ang the resistance in circuit: with battery 22' to deencrgize relay 23 and release armature 22. This serves to deencrgize relay 10, thereby leaving armature 14: in the position shown irrespective of the continual operation of the armature 20 of the interrupter. As soon as relay 25 is deenergized due to the fact that currents are no longer in'ipressed on line 2, armature 24 is released,

thereby energizing relay 23, which attracts its armature and completes a circuit from ground through armature 24, ar nature 22, armature 20, to one or the other of the solenoids 21 or 26 and battery 11 to ground, thereby subjecting relay 10 again to the control of the interrupter 17, the relay 10 and switches l and 5 operating in step with the interrupter as before.

It voice current is impressed on line 2 at a time when the input side of: the repeater is connected with the line 3, the voice relay will not be operated until. a later instant when the input side of the repeater is connected to the line 2, due to the fact that the relay 25 is permanently connected to the in put side of the repeater.

If current, such as voice current, is impressed on the line 3 with the armatures in the position shown, the voice relay 25 will not be operated, as it is not in circuit with line 5 due to the position of the armature l). Relay 25 will, however, be operated when the input side of the repeater is connected to the line 3 and the reversal. .l then. be an rested, permitting the transmission of currents from line through the repeater to line 2.

The invention is not limited to any particular type of lI]l7Bll'U]i)lI6l or of control relay, and the circuit as a whole is adapted to amplify any kind of impressed currents, such as voice currents or ringing currents. Although the invention has been set forth with especial referenceto its application to the repeating of voice-frequency currents, it

is of course also applicable to the repeating of citirrents of other frequencies, Whether higl'ier or lower. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular circuit arrangen'ient forth herein, but is capable of embodiment in many and widely varied arrangements within the scope of the appended claims.

(ertain broad aspects of this invention which are not claimed herein are claimed in my application Serial No. 406,731, Signaling systems, renewal of No. 212,461, filed January 18, .1918; qerial No. 212,462, Sigaling systems, tiled January 18, 1918; Serial l 213,522, Signaling systems, filed Jani: 24%, 1918; and Serial No. 213,523, Signaling systems and methods of operating the same, filed January 24, 1918.

l Vhat is claimed is:

l. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, means for reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines, means controlling said reversing mcans,said (ontrolling means operating continually during repeating, and means responsiveto current impressed on said lines for preventing said continually operating means from operating said reversing means.

2. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater theretor,means for reversing the coiniections of said repeater to saidlines,

means comprising a movable contact for operating said reversing means, said contact assuming a plurality of positions for reversing "said repeateig'mcans for moving said contactwhile repeating, and means for assuming control of said "reversing means independently of said contact.

3. In a system, a line, a repeater, means comprising a switch for reversibly connecting said repeater in said'linetor repeating alternately in opposite directions, and alternative means for operating said switch, one of said means continually opening and 010s ing said switch, during repeating,independ cntly of current impressed on said line.

4. In a system, a relay having an oscillatable armature, an interrupter having a vibrating armature controlling said relay for continually oscillating said relay armature, and a circuit unaffected. by vibration of said interrupter armature, for operating said. gintea'rupter alrmature.

A repeating system comprising a line "for supplying voice currents, a repeater therefor, means for connecting said repeater to and disconnecting said repeatertrom said line, a movable contact controlling said connecting and disconnecting means, means moving said contact continually while current is impressed on said line, and means responsive to current impressed on saidli'ne for assuming'control of said connectingland disconnecting means.

6. The combination of a plurality of smtionary contacts, a movable contact adapted impressed on said line, and connections for to be cyclically connected therewith, a signal arresting the motion of said first-mentioned line connected to said movable contact, a contact in response to current on said line. 1 contact adapted to operate at times in In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5 synchronism with said movable contact, mo my name this 18th day of January A. 1).,

tive means for maintaining said last-men- 1918.

tioned contact in motion while current is EDGAR D. JOHNSON. 

